Abraham Houser ^{3 4 5 6 7}

  General Notes:

(Source: Web Site: Descendents of George Heinrich Ernstberger
http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=REG&db=joarnspiger&id =I35)
From Fern Arnspiger-Hyten letter:
"John Arnspiger with his two sons, Simon Peter and Andrew Jackson and a son-in-law Abraham Houser started to California during the gold rush of 1849. Abraham Houser died before they reached California and Eula's great grandfather John Arnspiger died soon after crossing the California line. Place of burial unknown. Andrew reached California and wrote back many letters. He returned to Kansas and is buried in Sumner County."
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"Genealogy of the Houser, Rhorer, Dillman, and Hoover Families", page. 82,

Abe Houser III had a deformed or crippled foot which led him to be known as "club-foot Houser."

page. 81,
Abe "did not even begin the search for gold, for two weeks after his arrival in the Golden State, while cutting logs for a cabin, a tree fell on him, and killed him."

Abraham Jr. was a miller. Abraham and Mary Trisler had five sons and six daughters. He went from Nicholasville, Kentucky to New Orleans to help whip the enemy at that point in 1812. He was in Gen. Lewis' brigade. Gen. Lewis also went from the same place in Kentucky.

In 1836, they migrated to Eminence, Illinois. Their trip from Kentucky to Illinois was overland, being six weeks on the journey, and landed on the 24th day of November, 1836. In 1836, Abraham Houser, and two sons in law, Peter Horine and David Bruner came on horseback to Illinois, where in partnership, they purchased a tract of land of 646 acres, located in Tazewell County. Later a new county named Logan was formed by taking a portion from several adjoining counties and it embraced the territory in which this farm was located. After the purchase was completed the three men returned to Kentucky and in the fall moved their families in covered wagons to their new Illinois homes. The portion of land which came in to possession of David Bruner had in the way of improvements, a story and a half hewn log house which contained four rooms and a wide hall extending through it. This provided a home for the three families consisting of twenty-four members until next summer when Peter Horine built an addition of one room to a small log cabin which occupied his land. Abraham Houser and wife remained at the home of David Bruner while their home was in progress of building, but were never permitted to enjoy it's occupancy, as death claimed both within a few hours of each other before it's completion and one grave furnished a home of final rest for them. The land on which they settled was purchased from Joseph and Benjamin Orendorf, twin brothers, by Abraham Houser, David Bruner and Peter Horine.
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According to the Houser Genealogy, they settled on land very close to the site of Niblick cemetery, where they are buried. I came across this interesting story in "Mill, Murders and More in the Early Days of Jessamine, Kentucky" written by Billy Jackson Bower, descendant of Ann Deboe James on, subject of the story. Abraham Houser served on the jury in this case, but I have no info as to whether it was Abraham Jr. or Abraham Sr.

"Family history says that Virginian William Jameson was a Tory officer billeted at the home of a French lady by the name of DeBoe during the American Revolution. He fell in love with her daughter Ann and they were married .

The Jamesons came to Kentucky with some of Ann's family and they lived in Jessamine County near the Kentucky River, where Joseph Hunter had settled. Sons David, John, and William fought in the War of 1812, and, as Bennett Young says in his History of Jessamine, they were called Jimmersons.

William Jameson died in 1814, his will attested by James Hemphill, Samuel Hunter, and John Hunter. Then in 1817, his widow, Ann, was murdered!

Three Negro slaves, Lewis, Tom, and Harvey, were caught and thrown in jail for the dreadful deed. The Court, composed of W. N. Potts, James Martin, and Samuel Craig called a jury of twelve men "elected, tried and sworn the truth to speak." Lewis, a slave owned by John Hunter, was indicted and found guilty of murder, verdict signed by Francis Kearby, Lewis' attorney, moved "for time until tomorrow at twelve o'clock to file his grounds for a new trial, which was granted." The day was late and the Court adjourned and the Jury dismissed.

On Wednesday, August 25, with a new jury panel and Justices Potts, Craig, and John Browning presiding, Tom, owned by the heirs of William Jameson, who according to his will were to have freed Tom, was brought to the Bar and found not guilty. Harvey, another man owned by John Hunter was brought into Court and accused of being an accomplice to the murder, but a "no lie prosequi" was filed and he was charged with larceny instead.

Lewis' attorney filed for a new trial. This was granted because "the Jury was improperly permitted to disperse the day before without the consent of the prisoner."

Finally, on September 15, Lewis' second trial began. The prisoner, brought to the Bar in custody of the Jailor, and being arraigned "pleaded not guilty and for his trial put himself upon God and his country."

Again the time was short and the Justices ordered the Jury to retire to a "private room in the tavern of General William Lewis in Nicholasville, there to be kept together by the Sheriff until 9 o'clock tomorrow morning until Court meets, and in the meantime be permitted to take refreshments at their own expense. (signed) W. N. Potts."

Assembled again September 16, the Court Orders show that the Commonwealth Attorney examined witness, then called John Hunter, owner of Lewis, to be sworn and give evidence. Counsel for the prisoner objected because he said Hunter was interested in the course of events. the Justices overruled and instructed Hunter to be sworn. This was done and he stated that he did have an interest in the events because he would either "be a gainer or a loser." The Court assured him he would be paid for Lewis in case of conviction. Prisoner's Counsel objected gain. Hunter said he did not know whether the value of Lewis would be as much as he, the owner, thought he was worth.

Mrs. Hunter, wife of said Hunter, was examined without objection. The Jury, having heard the evidence and the prisoner in his defense, retired. After some time, they returned the following: "We of the Jury find the prisoner at the Bar guilty. (signed) Moses H. Wall, one of the Jury. Whereupon it being demanded of the prisoner Lewis if anything he had or knew to say, why the Court should not now proceed to give judgment against him and award execution thereof according to law, who said nothing. Therefore it is ordered by this Court that he be hanged by his neck until he is dead."

Saturday, the 18th day of October between the hours of 12 noon and 3 o'clock in the afternoon, was the date set by the court for the hanging. The Sheriff was instructed to build a gallows on the Hickman Road between the farms of William McConnell (the old Fisher Rice farm) and John Welch.

Lewis was certified by the court to be worth $475. The Commonwealth was to pay Levi and Milly Hunt, John and Mrs. Hunter, John Hunter Jr., James Wilmore, and H. and Patsy handy for two days as witnesses. Andrew Oldsman was paid for four days since he had come from Livingston County.

In settling Ann Jameson's estate, records show the coffin cost $4, the Coroner $6, the Attorneys $35, and the Cryer $3.

FIRST JURY: William Marshall, Benjamin Blackford, Moses Walker, Abraham Corman, David Hockensmith, George Smith, Robert Lowery, John Barr, Thomas Hughes, Francis Kirby, James Moss.
SECOND JURY: John Handley, Martin Young, Robert Easton, James Faulkner, Patrick Noonon, Alexander Willoughby, Lewis Dickerson, Hardin Gray, John Farrow, Michael Arnspiger, Robert Overstreet, John Finlay.
THIRD JURY: John Morris, John Howser, George Murmude (?), James Wilson, ABRAHAM HOWSER, Peter Heifner, Moses H. Walls, Robert Penniston.
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Abraham married Barbara Ann Arnspiger, daughter of John Arnspiger and Catherine Funk, on 14 October 1841 in , Jersey County, IL.^{1 2} (Barbara Ann Arnspiger was born on 13 August 1821 in , Jessamine County, KY,^{6 8 9 10 11 12} died on 2 June 1888 in , Logan County, IL ^{8 12} and was buried on 3 June 1888 in Atlanta, IL ^{8 12}.)

  Marriage Notes:

Abraham Houser married Barbara Ann Arnspiger while his sister, Catherine Houser, married Stephen Arnspiger, who was an uncle to Barbara Ann.
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